The New York Giants are hoping to strike gold with their collection of undrafted free agents. While they didn’t bring in many big name UDFAs, the Giants have brought in a number of rookie free agents with intriguing traits and real upside.
Colorado defensive tackle Anquin Barnes Jr. wasn’t on anyone’s radar outside of the NFL, however he might just be one of those hidden gems, and at a position of need.
Barnes Jr. is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, and started his collegiate career as a member
of the Alabama Crimson Tide. As you may expect from a defensive tackle recruited to Alabama, Barnes Jr. was well regarded as a high school player. He was a four-star recruit who was considered the 25th-ranked DT in the nation by ESPN and the 15th-ranked prospect in the state of Alabama.
However, he was buried on Alabama’s chronically deep bench and played in just two games over the course of his three seasons at Alabama. Barnes Jr. made the decision to enter the transfer portal as a red-shirt junior and ultimately chose Colorado.
There he was able to get onto the field, but his impact was limited in the box score. He had just 34 total tackles and 0.5 tackles for a loss in 23 games for the Buffaloes, though he did record an interception.
It isn’t a surprise, then, that Barnes Jr. wasn’t invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. If he had gotten the invite, however, he would have made waves.
While Barnes Jr. was listed at 6-foot-5, 340 pounds at Colorado when he got to Colorado, he cut down to 305 under the tutelage of new pass rush coordinator Warren Sapp. He then showed up to the Pro Day at 298 pounds, with his arms measuring 34 inches and an 81-inch wingspan. He still put up 27 reps on the bench press, as well as logging position-average vertical and broad jumps of 29 inches and 8-foot-10, respectively. The real surprise came when he turned a 5.01-second 40-yard dash, considerably faster than the 5.4-second 40 he was projected to run.
Barnes Jr. carried his 305 pounds well on tape, maintaining the size and thickness to hold up to offensive linemen while his length and power show up on tape as well.
He was typically used as the nose tackle in the Buffaloes’ defense, usually lining up as either the 0 or 1-technique. Barnes Jr. has a surprisingly explosive first step and is one of the first players moving at the snap and consistently knocking the center (or guard) into the backfield. He places his hands well and rushes with good initial leverage, but doesn’t seem to have a plan for after he drives the lineman back.
His battles against first-round right guard Keylan Rutledge were particularly impressive.
(Barnes Jr. is the Colorado defensive tackle wearing number 92.)
Despite being a fifth-year senior who spent the first three years of his career at Alabama and last year being coached by Warren Sapp, Barnes Jr. still has plenty of upside. His body type is versatile and he could probably play multiple alignments along the defensive line.
Barnes Jr. has the traits to be a real find and a UDFA gem if he can learn to finish his rushes. As it stands now, his disruption and ability to open holes for the Giants’ hyper-athletic linebackers could make Barnes Jr. a player to watch this summer.
